Awesome Halloween!!!

We had an awesome Halloween. This is Vanessa and her pumpkin :)

She stayed home to hand out candy this year, but she had so much fun carving up her pumpkin.

I took the other kids (pics are coming soon) to a Halloween party. Then we trick-or-treated around their neighborhood...we got rained on, we got HAILED on, but we kept going...they had so much fun. Then we had a little after party for the kids and they had cupcakes. After that we headed back to our neighborhood and trick-or-treated some more! Then, when they had enough running around we headed back to the house for hot chocolate and turned on the fireplace.....aaaahhhhhh :)

The kids were making piles with candy, sorting candy, trading candy, eating candy, LOL. I think they will have a supply of candy for a very long time. I am so glad they had fun. We will be ready to do it all again next year! :)

Daycare Parents

When I first started the daycare they told me that the hardest part would be working with the parents. So far I have been very lucky to have super great parents to work with that appreciate and understand what I do for them. They pay on time...they do not make me remind them.

.....BUT today I found out what that statement was all about. I have a contract that officially states my policies on when payment is due and I have a parent that thinks she can slide by without following the policies that are clearly stated in the contract. So I have talked to the State Licensor about this, she came to the house to talk with me, and I did give this parent a letter. We will see how it turns out.

I really don't expect her to show up tomorrow because she was NOT happy. She is going to call the referral service back and talk to them, but that will not change my policy. The referral service has nothing to do with policies set by home daycare owners... And I already talked to the State Licensor so I know my options.

It's too bad, really. The little boy is a doll ...AND he eats his veggies. I will hate to see him go because he is such a good little guy, but I will not deal with parents who don't follow my policies and don't want to (or can't) pay their bill on the designated day...then get angry about the late fee which was also clearly stated on the contract.

...so today I am sad, worried, annoyed, and almost ready to yell NEXT!!! But I did leave it up to her wheather she wants me to take him off the schedule. Time will tell, I guess.

Saw the movie: Jennifer's Body

Vanessa and I went to the movie "Jennifer's Body" tonight. I love scary movies and this one was great. The listing says it's a horror/comedy but it was more horror...I'm not sure I would call it a comedy. Either way, we both enjoyed it.

Last month we saw "Drag me to hell". That one was so scary/funny I think we will buy the DVD. lol ....here kitty, kitty, kitty ....hahaha

Trip to Chuck E Cheese

Well, we made a few bucks at the garage sale. And we used the loot for a fun trip to Chuck E Cheese. The kids had a great time and I got to relax a little while they were off playing games. I watched the Packers game while I was there....my team won....yeah! I an not a huge fan, it was just something to watch while I was relaxing.

We all tried out a new machine they have that makes cute ID cards with your picture on them. Then we had one extra token so we all squeezed in for the last one and the hip hop dancer card came out...lol

Gearing up for a garage sale

School has started for us here and I have been cleaning out closets and getting things organized. We have a lot of stuff I don't need anymore, so I have decided to have a garage sale. Usually when we do a garage sale we use the money for a trip to Chuck E Cheese. So it should be a fun sale, the kids said they would help with setup and take turns being cashier.

I will let you know how it goes. :)

Summer is ending soon

I haven't felt like writing anything lately, but there's lots of stuff going on...as always.

Today is our annual neighborhood picnic so I was thinking of showing my face for a few minutes. The neighborhood just doesn't feel the same this year. Some people have moved out, and others have moved in. I just haven't taken the time, nor do I have the energy, to pop over and say hi and welcome to the hood. And do people really do that any more? I know, I'm making excuses. I should be a good neighbor and at least stop over and say hi, right. I will work on that.

The daycare is still going well. Accept for the few parents that want to take days off and expect not to pay for their spot because their child was not here. I will have to reword my contract before January, I guess. I do have lots of drop-ins which helps alot with the budget, so I will just be happy for now.

Leah is off at Girl Scout camp for the weekend. This is amazing news because she has never volunteered to go stay somewhere without me coming along. My little girl is growing up. :) Mark is totally board without her! But he has a new skateboard so there are some boys in the neighborhood that he has been skating with.

I have been thinking about decorating in the house some more. I just need something else to think about sometimes so I thought this would be good. I actually hung some pretty curtains in my room last week. Curtain rods should NOT be that hard to put up! Now I'm gonna wait until JCPenny has their 40% off curtain panels and pick up the last set that I need for the living room.

I was thinking of painting a mural in the downstairs playroom. So I have been looking online for some ideas. If anyone has an idea, feel free to forward some pics to me. :) I thought maybe some trees and jungle animals...something fun for the kids.

Any ideas?

McDonald's Thursday

This has been a tradition for years now....every Thursday I take the kids to McDonalds. We have lunch or dinner (depending on the time) and I let them play in the playland. This all started because I wanted them to stop asking to go every day AND I also wanted them to learn the days of the week. Plus it gives them something to look forward to.

This has worked out great. They all seem to learn the days of the week really fast! LOL

So this week (today actually) we will have a new little guy from daycare that will be coming along, then there's Mark and Leah of course, and we are going to swing by and pick up Joey. I totally miss having Joey for daycare so I just borrow him once in a while. :) Too bad Alexis and Madison don't live closer.

And here are some playland pics for your enjoyment....LOL